Perera save Sri Lanka in 1st one-day international

DHAKA: Thisara Perera hit a career-best 80 not out to steer Sri Lanka to 180 all out against Bangladesh in the first one-day International at Mirpur´s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.

Perera and Sachitra Senanayeke added 82 runs for the ninth wicket to help Sri Lanka recover from a precarious 67-8.Perera struck four fours and six sixes in 57 balls.

Opener Kusal Perera made 20 while Dinesh Chandimal contributed 13. The rest of the batsmen failed to make it into double digits in the face of sustained pressure by the Bangladeshi bowlers, who at one point had threatened to bowl Sri Lanka out for less than 100.

Thisara Perera survived three times during the saving of his team.

He was dropped by Sohag Gazi on 7 off Arafat Sunny and by Nasir Hossain off Sohag Gazi on 30 at long-on. On both occasions the fielders failed to hold on the catch and it crossed the boundary line to gift him a six.

On 76, he was dropped by Shakib Al Hasan off Al-Amin Hossain to add to the agony of Bangladesh, who failed to get him out.

It was Perera´s third half-century in ODI cricket.

Senanayeke who accompanied Perera to halt Bangladesh´s progress, was also dropped twice. Shakib eventually got him out for 30 with a flighted delivery to end the partnership.

Senanayeke hit two fours and one six in 48 balls.

For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan, debutant Arafat Sunny and Rubel Hossain picked up two wickets apiece. (AP)